September 2009

September 22, 2009

I am a little behind on my blogging these days...busy, busy, busy planning lots of fun shopping events for you ladies. That said, I have to dish a bit about the Emmy Awards. For the most part, the dresses were just a wee bit blah, but of course there were some MAJOR standouts...here are my favs.

I love Drew...she can definitely get it wrong, but last night she was my 100% best dressed. I adored the blush Monique L'Hullier princess gown she wore. The color was perfect on her, the hair was just right, she looked like a little piece of heaven. I wanted her to win as well, but at least her other half (in Grey Gardens that is) took home the statue.

Next on my list and perhaps a bit controversial, was Blake Lively. She had a

major "J. Lo" Red Carpet moment....can you say va va va voom? Maybe too much cleavage, but when interviewed last night, she said it best..."I am 22". I always say if you got it, flaunt it and well, that she did! Her red Versace was beyond fab in so many ways!!! I also am coveting her hair do...young, glam and well equally as sexy as the dress. Not sure if you also got a glimpse of her to-die nude Louboutins...it looked like her legs never ended...perfection!

Also, not a universal favorite, was Leighton Meister in her white Grecian Bottega Veneta. I loved everything about it...the exaggerated shoulder straps - sculptured masterpiece, the color - of the moment, and the simple, almost unfinished flowy shape - modernista's dream. In fact, she looked dreamy. At first I thought it wasn't youthful enough, but then after careful consideration, I saw the genius in the choice...while Blake is our 20-something vixen, Leighton is our 20-something fashion goddess.

Last but not least was Ginnifer Goodwin in that gorgeous magenta YSL creation...the color of the night, the most interesting neckline and layers of chiffon

flowing in the wind...the only reason she isn't at the top is that I hated her hair. Oh, almost forgot...I loved the matchy shoes...a big trend last night!

So no dress bashing...you know who the big offenders were. For the most part the ladies of TV were a bit off their mark...I usually have many more loves, but alas, at the least the show wasn't completely boring this year.

September 16, 2009

I have have mentioned my obsession with American Football before...I am one of those strange women who will actually watch the games on Sunday/Monday night and now even Thursday night without a man forcing me. I have been a huge fan since I am a little girl, so any time I can combine my love of sports with my deep passion for fashion, I am in heaven...thank you to Alexander Wang for giving me a big dose of both!!!

Alexander Wang's Spring 2010 collection was genius on so many levels. First, it was quite a departure from 2009...I love it when you see a brand's evolution. He could have easily continued down his rocker inspired path and everyone would have still cheered, yet he chose to take us on another journey and for that I commend him. That said AW has always played with sport references in his collections (bike riding shorts in Fall 2009), so although he chose a fresh direction, the overall effect was still pure AW perfection...not many designers can recreate the wheel every season!!!

Next, the collection played with overt sexuality...part innocent school girl/part Bend It Like Beckham (yes I know this is a film about soccer), the AW girl has that fresh, sporty American sensibility that makes men swoon. Of course, I am not suggesting we all go out and buy tube knee socks next season, I am just applauding the confident, coquette, cool girls that AW sent down the runway.

Finally, Alexander Wang simply makes innovative clothes we all covet. He plays with shape, with proportion, with texture, with drape and the overall effect always pushes us a bit further into the fashion's future. I thought the show styling was fab, but when you actually break down the collection and look at each lust worthy piece on its own, AW's sheer intellect is oh so apparent.

September 14, 2009

So with Fashion Week about half way over, I am going to start to predict some early trends. Of course, I will review my absolute favorite collections as well, but today I want to discuss Rodarte's powerful effect on some of today's best brands. We all agree that the Mulleavy sisters have a passionate and powerful view of fashion...romantic, futuristic and not always 100% user friendly. That said, I am going to argue that their indelible mark on the industry has started to truly permeate/influence the collective design aesthetic. They haven't even had their show yet, so this is by no means a review....only a testament to how they have started to shape global style.

So lets start by making note of some of the designers that I feel are absolutely nodding to Rodarte this season. Preen, one of my absolute favorite brands and a trend setter in its own right is definitely cut from a Rodarte-esque cloth. Their Spring 2010 is one of my loves to date. I want pretty much every piece in the line. It was feminine, somewhat ethereal and beyond modern. The color palette was absolutely sublime...I am coveting the pink dresses!!! Preen played with texture mix more than ever this season and created magical armor-like creations (Rodarte's signature). Their fabrics of choice were lace and chiffon...diaphanous and tastefully sexy!!!!

Next on my list is Yigal Azrouel. I saw a definite shift in his aesthetic towards a Rodarte view of women. Again, it is only subtle influence that can be detected, as his salute is more about shape and construction and less about texture plays. He explores bondage and the wrapping of the female form (something Rodarte does with excellence) and thus creates a vision of the power female, the dominatrix or warrior (another Rodarte reference) that is alluring and quite a departure from his draped creations of season's past. His view of American sportswear marries the best of casual ease with modern design, thus making Yigal Azrouel a collection to lust after!!!

There is a major trend towards this experimentation with piecing and cutting and wrapping that is clearly here to stay well into 2010 and I for one am thrilled. It is seductive and tactile and passionate...just what fashion should be. Lets call the trend DECOUPAGE...the melding of texture and concept mixed in with almost a haphazard play on shape. Rodarte is where this all started and the Mulleavy sisters' effect has obviously brought on monumental shift in fashion!!!!

September 09, 2009

I spoke at a conference last night and one of the questions from the audience was about how to buy shoes in these "recessionary" times. I am a big believer that you should spend money on your heels, especially your go-to pumps and boots. That said, just like the rest of you, I am feeling the pinch of our down economy and really cannot afford $800 Louboutins...even if I could, come on $800...ludicrous, highway robbery!!! So ladies...I feel your pain and until last Friday I would have told you to buy smarter and buy less, but then I was introduced to the most ingenious concept...shoe adornment.

A new brand called Bluff NY has developed fab shoe accessories that transform your most basic/boring shoes into trendy fashion statements that will have people stopping you on the street. I constantly tell my clients to shop in their own closets...to alter items, to clean them up, to buy simple inexpensive accessories to add new life to tired looks, but until now other than a trip to the shoemaker, there weren't a lot of options for reinventing your shoe wardrobe. The line includes everything from embellished straps that add rocker edge to feather and fringe ankle cuffs that create a "bootie" illusion. You can go sweet or harder edged with a simple costume change. My personal favorites are the chain link pieces...so beyond cool!!! Most of the pieces are well under $100...need I say more.

The line is so new, so will be available at A. Turen in about two weeks, but if like me, you have to have them now, send an email to anna@bluffny.com and you can order through her directly. All major credit cards accepted. Let's face it Bluff NY is a recessionista's dream, so make sure to test out this great new idea and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!

September 08, 2009

I do tons of research to give you my almost daily fashion dish, so I love it when I actually discover something fabulous by chance! I am working on an amazing rock-n-roll inspired shopping event and a friend suggested I check out the super cool, super underground LES boutique A. Turen. I say underground as it has yet to be truly discovered, but it also has the exclusive vibe that only a true rocker den could provide. The store is all of about 300 square feet, in true LES form, yet the boutique has such presence that you can't help but feel like you walked into Gwen Stefani's dressing room...subdued lighting...rich, dark colors, the perfect amount of leopard print. I didn't want to ever leave!!!

OK, so of course this is not a store decor 101 piece...the main attraction is Ashley Turen's own line of, lets just say, "transformative" pieces. A painter at heart, Ashley takes everything from basic leggings and yes Spanx to Chanel and Balenciaga bags and gives them and art makeover. She literally paints over each piece to create a sort of tie dyed, metallic technique that is so rocker chic I almost had a fashion breakdown (a joyful one that is) right in the middle of the store. My favorites were many...hot leather jackets, the best leggings around, half tees (yes, the ones from the 80s), vintage lace vests and one sexy body skimming dress. Just when I thought I couldn't fall any more deeply in rocker love, she showed me a vintage Bon Jovi concert tee that she painted and embellised...unbelievable!!!! Really I wanted every piece in her collection...trust me, that never happens. She shows the pieces combined for a total body "paint job", but of course unless you are super fashion confident, I suggest wearing one at a time...the leggings are a must!

So if hand painted, embellished fashion isn't your thing, the store is still worth a drive by, as she also carries select pieces from other lines...the perfect faux fur vest from Notify, skinny jeans from cult favorite Siwy and several up an coming brands that were new to me. She also has a great eye for vintage. Finally, (yes there is more)...now you know why I was so breathless...bring her your old tired items and she will customize them for you. I have a great old Marc Jacobs bag that I just can't part with, which has an A. Turen update "painted" all over it.